Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, we're going to lay out a bill and a corresponding constitutional amendment so we can have testimony
• We do appreciate that you are taking this and making this part of a constitutional amendment.
• about ready to do on the last slide, David, if you can get there, is we're going to have multiple constitutional
• amendments.

Bills: SB23, SJR85

Keywords: homestead exemption, elderly, disabled, ad valorem taxation, school district funding, Texas constitutional amendment, property tax relief, school district taxes, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, elderly homeowners, senior citizens, disabled homeowners, age 65 or older, school finance, tax exemption increase, local school taxes, property tax exemption, homestead tax relief, voter approval

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government heard testimony on Senate Bill 23 and its companion constitutional amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 85, both by Senator Bettencourt. The bills would increase the additional homestead exemption for elderly and disabled homeowners from $10,000 to $60,000, which proponents said would significantly reduce property taxes and help seniors and disabled Texans age in place. Bettencourt and supporters described the measure as part of a broader property tax relief package, estimating combined savings of about $950 for over-65 and disabled homeowners when paired with other recent homestead exemption changes. Witnesses largely supported the proposal. Testimony in favor came from a lawyer, a private citizen, Texas Realtors, the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature, and the Texas Association of Builders, all emphasizing relief for fixed-income seniors, housing stability, and the ability to remain in their homes. Several witnesses noted rising property taxes, medical costs, and the challenges seniors face in moving or affording home modifications. One witness from Every Texan said a flat homestead exemption is the most equitable way to cut property taxes, but argued against additional tax cuts generally, favoring a circuit-breaker approach and warning that permanent tax cuts could reduce funding for schools and other needs. The committee also discussed data showing many over-65 homeowners already pay no school property taxes in some counties and that the proposed changes would increase that share. After closing public testimony, the committee voted on the measures. Senate Bill 23 was reported favorably to the full Senate by a 7-0 vote, and S.J.R. 85 was also reported favorably by a 7-0 vote. The transcript also shows Senate Bill 898 being laid out and passed unanimously earlier in the meeting, with a recommendation for the local and uncontested calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:17.840> the believe we're here to amend the believe we're here to amend the Bill<00
• <01:09:12.440> Amendment<01:09:12.759> would<01:09:12.920> do the Constitutional
• Amendment would do the Constitutional Amendment would do repr<01:09:14.080> Johnson<01:09:15.080
• Chair asked whether this was relating to the constitutional amendment before the committee today.
• amendment.

Bills: HF25, HF4

Keywords: pregnancy support, women's health, maternity homes, nonprofit organizations, grant funding, abortion, family services, tax relief fund, budget surplus, surplus revenue, tax rebate, tax refund, one-time refund, income tax, property tax, constitutional amendment, Minnesota Constitution, general fund, budget reserve, taxpayer relief

Transcript Highlights:

• It is vital to recognize that the people who would be most impacted by this amendment are already some
• undocumented immigrants goes against those principles and violates the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment
• In addition to the constitutional and humanitarian issues that others have raised, this resolution fails
• It would result in overbroad detention and undermine constitutional values and the rights of all Texans
• SAR 5 enshrines in the Texas Constitution a new provision that would trap thousands of Texas, disproportionately

Bills: SB 9, SB 1047, SB 1048, SJR 17, SJR 49, SB 40, SJR 1, SJR 5

Keywords: bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, criminal procedure, public safety report, victim notification, family violence, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunction, taxpayer rights, violent crimes, sexual offenses, community safety, constitutional amendment, trafficking

Bills: HB 102, HB 126, HB 271, HB 290, HB 300, HB 538, HB 718, HB 1022, HB 1330, HB 2110, HJR 5

Keywords: military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, tuition assistance, military, Texas State Guard, education, mandatory fees, scholarship, Texas Armed Services, student access, academic records

Bills: HB 102, HB 126, HB 271, HB 290, HB 300, HB 538, HB 718, HB 1022, HB 1330, HB 2110, HJR 5

Keywords: military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, tuition assistance, military, Texas State Guard, education, mandatory fees, scholarship, Texas Armed Services, student access, academic records

Transcript Highlights:

• He must use it only on jail services, and this bill simply amends it to allow him to use part of the
• This amendment supports the functions of the office of the sheriff for law enforcement purposes.
• This is proposing a Constitutional Amendment, wherein frankly Montgomery...
• I'm reading through the proposed amendment, and let's see...
• RSA, especially since this is a constitutional amendment. We'll see if we can get that answer.

Bills: SB208, SB216, HB187

Keywords: Montgomery, retirement system, employees, constitutional amendment, city council, retired law enforcement, retirement benefits, employment, firemedics, salary cap, HB187, court fees, docket fee, sheriff's fund, sheriff's office, jail operations, law enforcement, county sheriff, court filing fees, Alabama Code 12-19-312

Transcript Highlights:

• I have an amendment to the memory. >> Um, at a funeral. >> Oh, okay. Good.
• I mean, excuse me, amendment.
• All in favor of the amendment say I. >> All opposed. >> Ayes have it.
• The HB 620 gets a favorable report as amended. bill. Uh I have a motion by bill.
• So, we got it narrowed down to just that. bill amends the act to establish clear bill amends the act

Bills: HB610, HB620, HB582, HB610, HB620, HB582

Keywords: state bank, public bank, government funds, financial services, constitutional amendment, tax abatements, international headquarters, publicly traded companies, economic incentives, Alabama tax reform, social-emotional learning, education policy, parental consent, K-12 education, teacher training, student surveys, disciplinary action, automatic renewal, consumer protection, cancellation policy

Transcript Highlights:

• It currently is in the constitution. that we have a state secretary of education.
• the reason I'm probably not going to vote for today is because of the ambiguity about How these amendments
• Once the board is constituted, then they would go through and either shift.

Bills: SB194, SB200, SB203, SB204, SJR3

Keywords: appropriation, higher education, sports facilities, community college, Luna Community College, KANW, educational radio, rural news, public education, funding, education, documentary, historical figure, Padre Antonio Jose Martinez, cultural heritage, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University

Transcript Highlights:

• bill that she's getting worked out, so we're going to roll that until Monday so we can get a clean amendment
• There's many points in the actual amendment because families and educators are concerned.
• So that is the amendment. And I stand for questions. All right. So we'll go to our audience.
• Reminder, folks, that House Bill 161 we're rolling over pending some amendments from the.

Bills: SB194, SB200, SB203, SB204, SJR3

Keywords: appropriation, higher education, sports facilities, community college, Luna Community College, KANW, educational radio, rural news, public education, funding, education, documentary, historical figure, Padre Antonio Jose Martinez, cultural heritage, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University

Bills: SB 82, SB 1807, SB 2254, HB 119, HB 130, HB 581, HJR 98, SB 1988

Keywords: business liability, concealed carry, handgun policy, premises liability, criminal acts, civil liability, business premises, concealed handgun, property liability, property rights, gun regulations, criminal liability, protective order, confidentiality, personal information, court records, victim protection, charitable raffle, nonprofit, wildlife conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the only fair thing to do with this amendment is not to vote this amendment in and take that
• Our biggest concern with this bill is we have Fifth Amendment concerns, and we have Second Amendment
• Amendment concerns, our Fifth Amendment concerns are self-incrimination concerns.
• I had a question based upon what you said about the Fifth Amendment and the Second Amendment.
• But what I don't understand is how that incites a Fifth Amendment issue. fifth amendment concern.

Bills: SB76, SB35, SB116, SB119, SB118, SB129, SB32, SB31, SB115, SB75, HB27, HB40

Keywords: jury duty, nursing mothers, exemption, legal rights, parental responsibilities, sexual extortion, criminal law, felony, threat, blackmail, firearm possession, domestic violence, violent offenses, criminal penalties, pretrial detention, bail, offenses, constitutional amendment, criminal justice, law enforcement

Bills: SF0069, SF0084, SF0050, SF0109, HB0069, HB0098

Keywords: wastewater, stormwater, infrastructure, environmental quality, public data, data collection, funding, study, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, irrigation, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls

Transcript Highlights:

• They violate the Second Amendment, the Fourth Amendment, the Fifth Amendment, and the 14th Amendment.
• They're one of the few things I can think of that violate four amendments to the Constitution: your due
• They violate the Second Amendment, the Fourth Amendment, the Fifth Amendment, and the 14th Amendment.
• They're one of the few things I can think of that violate four amendments to the Constitution: your due
• They're one of the few things I can think of that violate four amendments to the Constitution: your due

Bills: SF0069, SF0084, SF0050, SF0109, HB0069, HB0098

Keywords: wastewater, stormwater, infrastructure, environmental quality, public data, data collection, funding, study, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, irrigation, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm probably going to put an amendment on here that says this definition is only for this section and

Bills: HB537, HB474, HB527, HB449, HB380, HB449, HB380

Keywords: preliminary hearing, criminal procedure, Aniah's Law, pretrial detention, defendant rights, property rights, law enforcement, removal procedures, unauthorized occupancy, trespassing, liability, off-roading, parks, participant safety, risk management, DNA, genetic testing, privacy, consent, criminal penalties

Transcript Highlights:

• do this, and, uh, we, we, we need the constitutional amendment.
• And so, uh, the constitutional amendment just creates the growth fund is what it does basically.
• The, the House bill and the and the constitutional amendment are needed and we'll let the people decide
• So this is the proposed constitutional amendment that if, uh, adopted by the legislature and passed by
• Uh, a constitutional amendment.

Bills: HB188, HB 265, HJR35

Keywords: emergency preparedness, flood-prone communities, Texas Rural Emergency Preparedness Fund, disaster relief, funding, youth camp, safety regulations, advisory committee, child welfare, health standards, summer camp, camp safety, child abuse reporting, child neglect, mandatory reporting, background check, criminal history check, sex offender registry, CPR training, first aid

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, we're going to lay out a bill and its corresponding constitutional amendment, so we can have testimony

Bills: SB23, SJR85, SB 23

Keywords: homestead exemption, elderly, disabled, ad valorem taxation, school district funding, Texas constitutional amendment, property tax relief, school district taxes, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, elderly homeowners, senior citizens, disabled homeowners, age 65 or older, school finance, tax exemption increase, local school taxes, property tax exemption, homestead tax relief, voter approval

Transcript Highlights:

• Pascal, Representative Bose, thank you for your amendment.
• But in the amendment on page one, if you would look...
• Also, in 2018, Alabama passed a constitutional amendment concerning the Ten Commandments in schools that
• Okay, do we need an amendment that specifies that we can... amendment that specifies that we can...
• I'm willing to have these amendments brought to the floor.

Bills: SB211, HB96, SB215, SB257, SB13, SB13

Keywords: school safety, local law enforcement, superintendent, complaints, school bus regulations, National Signing Day, athletic scholarships, military enlistment, postsecondary education, apprenticeship programs, high school students, educational commitments, education intervention, State Superintendent, local boards, provisional release, subpoena authority, compliance, educational operation control, fundraising

Transcript Highlights:

• I just received the amendment. I just forwarded it to Margaret, and she's taking it.
• Maybe that amendment can come from the floor, but the Pre-K need to be added to the piece of legislation
• We're talking about adding this as a constitutional amendment. ...this as a constitutional amendment.
• I can see you doing maybe a statute to require it, but I can't go along with the constitutional amendment
• , you know, that now we're going to put this in our state's Constitution to require... state's Constitution

Bills: SB211, HB96, SB215, SB257, SB13, SB13

Keywords: school safety, local law enforcement, superintendent, complaints, school bus regulations, National Signing Day, athletic scholarships, military enlistment, postsecondary education, apprenticeship programs, high school students, educational commitments, education intervention, State Superintendent, local boards, provisional release, subpoena authority, compliance, educational operation control, fundraising

Bills: SF0072, SF0104, SJ0005

Keywords: teacher licensure, teacher mobility, interstate compact, education compact, licensure reciprocity, reciprocal certification, teacher certification, professional teaching standards board, out-of-state teachers, military spouse, active duty military, teacher shortage, career and technical education, CTE teacher, background check, disciplinary records, licensure portability, multistate commission, education regulation, school staffing

Bills: HB0070, HB0043, HB0103, HB0157, HB0092, SF0092

Keywords: foreign censorship, digital innovation, constitutional rights, Wyoming GRANITE Act, extraterritorial laws, civil actions, speech protection, legal jurisdiction, joint liability, money laundering, illegal investment, financial institutions, criminal activity, Wyoming legislation, First Amendment, free speech, lawsuits, immunity, public participation, strategic lawsuits